Finding the roses

So last week I stopped to smell the roses, this week I braved the rain at the start of the week and stopped to find them. 47 is overrun with 2 1/2 ft grass so I made it my mission to try tackle it. This was originally the flowerbed.

I found all these beauties hiding under the grass.

So after several hours out in th showers I finally found most of the flowers.

Only one small section to go but I ran out of time.

Elsewhere.....
... the apple tree is full of apples.

.... From the greenhouse we have eaten our first cucumber and there are plenty more on the way. Our first tomatoes are forming.

.... JJ was most excited to find the first ripe strawberry, but became somewhat disgruntled when she realised she wasn't the first to find it. Have to be quicker than than JJ.

The weather has gone from showers to full on flash flooding thunderstorms, so progress has been slower than I would like this week. The top of 45 is under water again but at this time of year it soon dries out.

Thanks for reading. Keep digging :)

'What is this life'

So yesterday I had a busy day; check up, coffee, blogging and then spending the rest of the day at the allotment.

I focused on the main bed on 45. The bark means I can weed it using a hand fork instead of a full-sized garden fork.

I took my time stopping regularly for a sit down and a drink. After several hours, I ended up near the grass verge and at the point where the grass was too thick for a hand trowel. Deciding to stop I admired my handiwork.

Having a greenhouse over flowing with plants I decided to start putting them out, starting with our courgettes. We have 2 green and 1 yellow. (I have donated the second yellow courgette to the school allotment.)

I need to rebark the area but thought I would plant everything and get Mr P to help remove the last of the grass first. I also need Mr P's help with Cecil and Cecelia before planting the last of the plants out, need to protect from the rabbits and pigeons!

I found this little beauty hiding in the weeds. It's managed to grow 5m away from the flowerbed. I should move it but I hadn't the heart to disturb it. Feeling down yesterday, this little flower reminded me that there is always a chance of something wonderful and unexpected happening.

I finished off by planting Primulas around the cherry tree on 47. They were in a planter at home but were not liking the suntrap that is our decking.

Feeling thoroughly achy I went for a lie down in the mini meadow at the back of 45. I like to keep a small section for wildlife and the cool grass was a relief from the heat of the day. My view:

It was nice to stop and stare up. I saw several different birds including swallows, as well as bees and butterflies. Laid there in the still listening to the world I reconnected with nature until my neighbour came rushing up to make sure I was alright and hadn't had a fall. He must have thought I was nuts however those 15 minutes were the most relaxing of my day.

I mentioned my moment in the grass and a friend reminded me of William H Davies' poem 'We have no time'

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Off to spend an hour at the school allotment now.

Thanks for reading. Keep digging :)

Mr P's return to the plot

On the whole it's been a glorious week weatherwise. Had a couple of wet and cold days but the weather held for the bank holiday.

So what have we been up to on plots 45 and 47? 

For the bank holiday we took a few days out and visited Lands End in Cornwall and had a fantastic few days on the beach enjoying the sunshine.

Lands End

 The Little P's proved they could build the biggest castle on the beach with this beauty, taking time decorate it using sea glass, pebbles, shells and anything they could find on the beach. Beach scavenger hunts definitely produce the best treasures.

Sennen Cove construction

Sennen cove construction from the front

Day 2 and getting bored of sandcastles they made a turtle and decided to dig to China. After digging 2 foot down they decided it would be more fun to bury each other. We are still finding sand hidden away in places we didn't expect and probably will be for the next few weeks. Safe to say we all had an enjoyable time at the beach.

Perranporth

Back home and the work never stops. I've been busy maintaining areas on 45. Reheaping potatoes with help and working my way through the weeds.

Mr P has been busy getting on top of 47. He's started strimmimg and clearing around the fruit trees and started digging around the bases of the trees.

I planted marigolds and giant marigolds again this year so they have been planted around the base of the tree.

The bed I started digging before I was ill is being cleared, just the section around the barrel to go. The squash and pumpkins have been potted on again so they can keep growing until we can get them in.

So that's where we're up to. Mr P's handy work is certainly having a much needed impact on 47. I'm off now to do a bit more work on 45.

Thanks for reading and keep digging. :)